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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. LORENZ.

METHOD OF YOOMPRESSING GUNPOWDIER OR' ANALOGOUS MATERIALS, No. 380,686.PatentedApr. 10 1 888.

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N. PETERS, Phclo-lJmogr-xphun Washington. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Z N E R 0 L W (No Model.)

METHOD OF GOMPRBSSING GUNPOWDER OR ANALOGOUS MATERIALS.

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UNITED ra'rns PATENT ()FFICE.

WILHELM' LORENZ, F OARLSRUHE, BADEN, GERMANY.

METHOD OF COMPRESSING GUNPOWDER 0R ANALOGOUS MATERIALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,686, dated April10, 1888.

Application filed June 16, 1887. Serial No. 241,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILHELM LORENZ, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, and a resident of Carlsruhe, in the Grand Duchy of Baden,Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methodsfor Cornpressing Gunpowder or Analogous Compressible Materials, of whichthe following is a specification.

My method may apply in compressing any compressible material in hollowbodies-as cartridge-cases,tubes, matrices, pots, &c. exerting thepressure in radial directions from the interior of the hollow bodiestoward the exterior of the same.

My invention consists, essentially, in introducing dies, each providedwith a concentric extension or lengthening piece extending into theinterior of thefilling of the cartridge-cases, tubes, matrices, pots, orother hollow bodies, and pressingthe material in radial orobliquely-radial directions from the interior toward the periphery orwalls by means of the said extension and its conical or curvedintermediate portion between the die and the lengthening piece of thesame, whereto may be added any desired form of die according toconvenience for axial pressing. This method maybe employed in differentways and with differently-shaped devices. The filling may be previouslypressed and provided with a central opening or canal for facilitatingthe introduction of the die audits extension; or the die may beintroduced directly into the loosely-pouredin filling. For forming sucha canal in the filling, a thin needle or spindle is introduced, eitherfrom above or from below, into the interior of the hollow case, andaround this needle the powder or the other material lies. Nexta dieprovided with an axial bore corresponding to the diameter of the spindleis introduced from the mouth of the hollow body in its interior andforced against the filling of the same with so much pressure as isrequired to insure the cohesion of the filling material. After theretiring of the die and spindle a corresponding hole is left in thefilling material. The spindle should be so proportioned relativcly tothe hollow die for preliminary pressing that it reaches the bottombefore the die has completely acted. The die can afterward spring may beset in the interior of the die to serve between the same and thespindle,which spring permits the advancing of the die after the spindlehas been arrested, so that no greater force can be applied to thespindle than is due to the action of the spiral sprin Such preliminarypressing leaves ahole in the center, and thus facilitates the entranceof the subsequent dies by which the compression of the filling from theinterior outward is to be effected. It further serves by imparting tothe filling material such cohesion that the filling material will notescape under the more severe pressure applied at a late stage. It isconven ient to inclose the hollow bodies in suitable strong matrices aswell at the'preliminary as at all the later pressings.

The pressingdies proper,which serve for the radial compressing of thepowder from the interior, have each a cylindrical shaft and a taperextension having the same or a different motion with softly-risingcurves. The dies are introduced with their extensions entering into thecanal formed by the preliminary pressing and act from the interioroutward. At the same time an axial pressure is effected by the die. Sucha compression of the filling may be operated in sufficient force by oneof such dies, or two, three, or more dies may press successively uponafilling. In the latter case each succeeding die is provided with athicker extension. The conical or rounded shoulder'between the thick dieand the thin lengthening of the same is successively varied in orderthat the dies may penetrate as deep as possible into the filling. Aftera filling has been sufficiently compressed radially and also axiallythere is poured in new filling material, and this is also ployed at theseveral succeeding fillings. .Morcover, the layers pressed one into theother may be coated with materials that aid the combustion or thatretard the same when explosives are treated; or the layers may, by acoating of indifferent character, be separated from each other,whereby ameans for regulating the time of combustion will be obtained.-

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. All thefigures are central vertical sections. Each principal figure shows acartridge-case of copper inclosed in astrong guard of cast-iron.

Figures 1, 2, 2, 2", 3, and 3 show the preliminary pressing. Fig. 3 isthe principal figure. The others are modifications. Fig. 4 shows thefirst stage of the subsequent compressing. Fig. 4 shows the next stage,and Fig. 4" shows the final stage, of the compressing of the firstquantity of material. Fig. 5 shows two forms of die and extension, oneshown by the strong lines and another by the dotted lines. Figs. 5, 6,6, 6 7, 7, and 7" show modifications, the strong lines showing the formof an early die and extension,

and the dotted lines showing the form of dies and extensions used atlater stages; and Fig. 8 shows the cartridge after three successivequantities of the same or of different powder have been introduced andcompressed.

Theletters of reference must be distinguished with some care in theseveral figures.

In the drawings the instruments used in these methods ofcompressing arerepresented in several variations, and will be described as employed incompressing gunpowder in cartridge-cases. Itis understood that theseforms, and especially the shoulders between the dies and theirextensions,may be modified without defeating the objectof the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a cartridge-case, a, with flashhole, a, inclosed in a form,I). A needle, 0, is introduced from below through the bottom of the caseinto the same. In Fig. 2 such a needle, 0, is introduced from the openend of the case into the same. This needle has no swell, and allows ahollow cylindrical die, e, to pass over the same for preliminarycompressing. It is set on the bottom a of the cup of the case.

In Fig. 2 the needle is shown provided with a tenon centered on theflash-hole a. In Fig. 2 the needle is passed through such hole. Thecases are provided with the filling, d, which is to be compressed.

Fig. 3 shows the die 6 similarly bored out, having a planepressing-surface for preliminary pressing of filling d forced againstthe same. Fig. 3 shows a die, 6, with widened bore 6, and a needle, 0,with disk 0". Be tween the disk and end plate, e ,a spiral spring, 5, isplaced,which, after setting the needle on the bottom of the cup of thecase, permits the advancing of die e without exposing the needle to anyundue mechanical pressure.

' Fig. 4 shows in dotted lines the canalf remaining after the retiringof needles 0 c and die 6, and, further, a pressing-die proper, g. Thesame die is,.with its needle-shaped extension h, forced into the canal fas far as shown, having thereby pressed the filling d laterally to anextent corresponding to the thickness of the shaft Fig. 4 shows a seconddie, g g*, and Fig. 4 a third, each succeeding die having a thickershaft and a shorter tapered portion of adjustment, K K between thecylindri cal shaft and the needle-shaped lengthening h h, and, further,a ring-die, e, for adding an axial pressing. Such ring may also be addedtothe dies 9 and 9'.

Fig. 5 shows a die, Z, with its lengthening Z introduced into the loosefilling and-the cylindrical shaft Z entered into the month of the case.Fig. 5 shows a second and a third of such dies (among which, eventually,as indicated by dotted lines, more dies may be employed) with theircylindrical shafts successively entered deeper into the filling,and thusforcing the same accordingly more laterally.

Fig. 6 shows a die, m, with lengthenings of successively-increasedthickness m m m &c., and with a shaft entering equally deep into themouth of the case. The curves of adjustment in this case, as well aswith the dies in Figs. 5 and 5 and in Figs. 2, 4, 4, and 4, are madeconcavo-convex. These intermediate portions of adjustment may as well beshaped only concave, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 shows similar dies to Fig. 6, but with concave portions betweenthe shaft m and the extension of increasing thickness m m. Fig. 6 showssuch dies with obtusely-pointed extensions m m 111?.

Fig. 7 shows a die havinga fixed extension, it, set in shaft 0. In thiscase it is screwed in. Figs. 7 and 7 show two-part dies having theshafts 0 o bored in order to receive either fixed or movable extensionsof corresponding dimensions. Instead of being set upon the bottom of thecartridge,all these dies may engage by a tenon in a hole in the same, asshown in Fig. 2, or may passthrough a flash-hole in the bottom, as shownin dotted lines in Figs. 5, 6, and 6.

Fig. 8 shows a case having three concentric layers of materialcompressed in the form of tubes d d' d They are pressed successively onein the other, and a canal of combustion, f, Figs. 4 and 5, is left inthe center.

I may repeat that, instead of preparing the dies for successivelypenetrating more deeply into the filling, the dies may be so arranged asto penetrate always to the same depth. The extension of the die whichshall perform the lateral compression may with each successive pressingbe so chosen that the filling will be more compressed according to thedifference in the cubic contents of these portions. Such dies may bemade in one piece, or the extension may be in any convenient way firmlyset in or may extend through a central hole bored in the hollowcylindrical shaft. In the latter case the annular die may be movedagainst the filling at the same time with the extensiondie, or one dieafter the other may be brought into operation. For example, with suchtwopart die there may, before, at the same time, or

. tension and the cylindrical shaft.

the partially-compressed material for facilitating the introduction oflaterally-compressing dies may be dispensed with. Thus the axialintroduction of a needle or spindle in the filling by means of annulardies may be omitted, and dies with conical or tapered or needleshapedextension may then be introduced directly into the loose filling. Theextension in this case may taper to such a thin extremity. that the samepasses through a corresponding hole in the bottom of the hollow body,whereby the die obtains a substantial axial guide; or the extension maysimply be set on the bottom, or may, for centering the die, engage by atenon in the hole in the bottom. When employing such dies on a fillingwhich is not pressed preliminarily, the cylindrical shaft must be of adiameter corresponding to the diameter of the mouth of the case intowhich the shaft enters, in order to prevent the escape of the materialoutward during the lateral compression. Such dies may in the same way asabove described perform the radial or lateral pressings, either by meansof their extensions alone, or these pressings may be performed by theextension and the intermediate portions between the ex- In the firstcase the extension is made of a length corresponding to the length ofthe cases or to the height of the filling pressed or to be pressedtherein. The compression of the filling is produced by the entering ofthe extension into the same, and an amount which corresponds to thecubic capacity of the extension. Such a compression may be operated insufficient force with one of such dies, or there may two, three, or moredies be used successively to press a filling. In this latter case thefollowing dies are, as above described, each provided with an extensionof the same length but of greater thickness than that of the precedingdie, so that the filling is each time more compressed according to theincreasing cubic capacity of each succeeding extension die. Theintermediate portion between an extension and its cylindrical shaft maybe thicker or thinner, as required, and may be joined thereto by acurve, either concave or convexconcave; or the extension-die may bejoined directly to the end of the hollow cylindrical die without anyrounding off. It is understood that all siich diessuited for a fillingthat has not undergone a preliminary press ing may also be introducedinto the canal or hole of a preliminarily -pressed filling. In eithercase it may be useful for pressing one and the same fillingwhich hasbeen preliminarily pressed or notto employ various sorts of theabove-described dies. For example, after one or more pressings with dieshaving convex-concavo-shaped joiningcurves between the extension-die andthe cylindrical shaft, a pressing may be operated with a d1e having aconcave joining-curve or having a straight annular pressing-surface, orthere may follow a pressing by an annular die, according to the formwhich it is desired to give to the canal, or in order to add tothelateral pressing a greater or less axial pressing of the filling.

In the drawings the arrows indicate the d1- rection in which the dieforms operate laterally and obliquely against the filling.

In comparison with the ordinary method of compressing, in which thepressing is only in an axial direction, this new method permits agreatly increased quantity of filling material-more than 'double thequantity introduced beforeto be compressed into the cases; or, employingthe same quantity of compressed filling material as hitherto used, thecartridgecases (or other hollow bodies) may be of considerably smallersize, whereby the manufacture will be facilitated, the cost of makingthem diminished,the Weight reduced, and the transportation facilitated.

By this method, as applied to the compression of powder or explosives,the inner surface of the canal of combustion may be condensed more orless equally, according to the requirements and to the character of thefilling material. This method of compression may be employed for anycaliber of cartridgecases, tubes, matrices, pots, and other hollowbodies, and for any sort of gunpowder or other compressible explosive orother material -as, for example, chemical substances, conserves, 8w.

I claim as my invention- The herein-described method of filling hollowbodies-such as cartridge-shells, 8tc.- with compressed gunpowder orother compressible materials, which method consists, first, in fillingsuch hollow body to a certain degree with the compressible material,then introducing a tapering needle into the center of such material foreffecting a radial compression of the same and producing a longitudinalcanal therein, then filling such canal with another charge of saidmaterial and repeating said process, and finally forcing a die into theopen end of said hollow body for effecting the axial compression of theseveral annular-layers of radial] y-compressed material.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand, at Berlin, this 24thday of November, 1886, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W'ILHELM LORENZ.

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